Producing more for less was the bottom line emphasized by researchers and visiting specialists who shared their knowledge and led tours during Clemson’s Fall Field Day at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville Thursday.

A record crowd of around 300 growers, industry representatives and interested individuals flocked to the center to learn how to decrease input while increasing yields and quality of beef cattle, row crops and vegetable crops.

The event, which was free and open to the public, offered three morning tours and two afternoon tours. During lunch, statewide agricultural representatives covered topics from the 2009 fall weather forecast to the new State Farmers Market which is set to open in April 2010.

A caravan of tractors pulling flatbed farm trailers fitted with bench seats took a group on tours of the Edisto REC cattle operation to look at beef cattle production, the bull test center and forages. Optimizing efficiency of Bermuda grass pastures and hay fields, pasture weed control, perennial peanuts and replacement heifer development were covered in detail. Larry Olson, who coordinated the tour, explained results from ongoing research on the station.

“The cost of raising a heifer went up with the increase in fertilizer costs,” Olson said. Timely management is the key to keeping costs down, he said.

The Row Crops and New Technologies tour covered a wide variety of topics including planting date and seeding rate research in soybeans, more efficient application of nitrogen in corn and the use of the LEPA (Low Energy Precision Application) irrigation system in cotton. Management of insects in corn, cotton and soybeans, weed management in soybeans and a Soybean Rust update brought the latest research to the forefront.

Dr. Jay Chapin led the Peanut Production tour which looked at newly released runner- and Virginia-type peanut varieties, disease resistance, planting date as related to maturity, disease and weed management, response to applied nitrogen and irrigation. Chapin touted the promising qualities of a variety set to be released in 2010 named “Bailey,” which in trials is showing improved disease resistance.

“We would like to see Bailey replace the NC-VII,” Chapin said. “It’s yields are good even though it’s a bit smaller.”

A noon indoor program included educational presentations by David Winkles, president of South Carolina Farm Bureau, who gave an update on legislative issues related to agriculture.

Hugh Weathers, S.C. Department of Agriculture commissioner, emphasized the enormity of the economic impact of agriculture on the state. In 2008, agribusiness in South Carolina made a $34 billion impact, Weathers said.

John Kelly, vice president for Clemson University’s public services activities, referred to the Edisto REC as “one of our pride-and-joys” and said his number one commitment is to continue to put more resources into the experiment station. Research, bringing forth new ideas and marketplace testing, are very important, Kelly said.

Mark Malsick, meteorologist with the SCDNR, gave a fall weather update for 2009, noting that rainfall levels are expected to be low this fall.

“The only real wildcard right now for moisture is a hurricane,” Malsick said. “Fifteen to 25 percent of our rainfall in the fall comes from tropical cyclones. But you have to be careful what you wish for.”

Jim Anderson, developer, gave an update on the new state Farmers Market and showed architect’s renditions of the facility which is under construction and set to open in April 2010.

The Edisto Forage Bull Test Center was on the afternoon tour.

Gilbert Miller, area vegetable specialist, gave the crowd a look at fall watermelon production and pumpkin production. He discussed the experimental plots of regenerated watermelon plants that had been cut back after producing a summer crop. By running the disc along the edge of the plastic row cover, the old vines are cut back and new vines and foliage grow and produce a second crop. Miller said the method is still in the experimental stage in South Carolina.

“The problem with pumpkin production in South Carolina is lack of control over viruses,” Miller said. “We’ve got to get a handle on virus control before we can grow them profitably.”

Tony Keineth, plant pathologist from Coastal REC, pointed out how to identify powdery mildew, downy mildew, strap leaf and gummy stem blight – all of which adversely affect production on pumpkins.

For more information on the topics and areas of research covered during the field day, go to Edisto REC’s Web site at http://www.clemson.edu/public/rec/edisto/ or call 803-284-3343. Links to videos on water management can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IavzmQD7_kw, and for a look at experimental pumpkin varieties, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzHa53viKE.

T&D Correspondent Minnie Miller can be reached by writing to her at 138 Nature’s Trail, Bamberg, SC 29003. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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